By George Alleyne
As Barbados prepares to celebrate
its 54th independence
anniversary Monday, Nov. 30,
the island’s Consul General in
New York, Mackie Holder, is
pledging to further strengthen
ties with the city through
activities of citizens resident
here.
“In New York, the Consulate
will continue to broaden its
interactions with the Diaspora
and all who have an interest in
Barbados,” Holder has stated.
He added, “indeed, a recent
dialogue between young Barbadians
at home and young
people in Newark is an
example of the new directions
that will shape discourse in
the future. We eagerly anticipate
a renewal in 2021 and
bringing some transformative
projects to New York and some
of the other States under the
Consulate’s jurisdiction”.
In an independence message
that Holder shared with
Caribbean Life the diplomatic
representative emphasised
closeness and shared tragedies
between Barbadians and New
Yorkers stemming from the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“Barbadian lives have been
lost … It is a sad reflection
Caribbean L 18 ife, Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2020
of our times that the
most widely praised of the
NY Consulate’s activities was
the memorial service held in
August celebrating the lives
of those who lost their lives
to Covid-19 as well as from
other causes.”
Holder noted that his
island’s independence comes
in the midst of the ongoing,
devastating COVID-19 pandemic
and said, “for those
of us who live in the United
States, there is the unpalatable
specter of another period
of shutdown and shelter in
place as infection rates spike
country-wide.”
“Already, the harsh reality
is that the numbers are
much higher than in spring
when the pandemic exploded,
first in New York; spread is
more widespread and, unfortunately,
death rates are again
climbing.”
In expressing gratitude to
New York medical and other
personnel who have been spearheading
the battle against the
virus, he noted that his countrymen
and women continue
to be among those rendering
heroic service.
“We remain grateful to all
front line workers, among
whom are many Barbadians,
for their ongoing sacrifice,
dedication to duty and care.
“The public salutes have
abated, but we all continue to
owe an unpayable debt to all
who get up daily, if they slept
at all, to battle the pandemic.”
He also spoke of the devotion
to duty and service of
his consulate staff, “who have
worked throughout the pandemic,
in and out of office.”
The consul general who was
appointed in 2018 described
as an irony the fact that the
pandemic has brought closer
together New York based Barbadian
associations.
Barbados Consul General in New York, Mackie Holder. Mackie
He said this collaboration
“will remain the outstanding
achievement of the year,
one that has already delivered
important programs and
which holds immense, as yet
untapped potential for more
practical engagement.”
Holder
Bajans celebrate New York
solidarity at independence